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'UNTTED STATES ATENT Tries,

JOsEPH B. LAUGHTON, on BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO varnnrinn & COM- PANY, or new YORK, n. Y.

FELT RUBBER.

SPECiPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,585Qdated April 8, 1884.

' Application filed February 21, 1884. (no model.)

, ing processes, for producing highpolish in fine carriage and other work, in which rubber the pumice, crocus, or other mineral agent employed with the felt to give it an edge, so

to speak, is incorporated with the fibers of the felt by thorough intermixture throughout the whole texture of the fabric, or substantially so, the object being to combine the pumice or other agent more intimately and more permanently, andtherefore more effect ively, with the fibers of the felt, and also so as to be used more economically than can be accomplished in the common practice of applying the pumice to the surface of the wet rubber from time to time while using it, whether the rubber is plain or perforated.

In carrying out my invention I propose to employ any approved means of mixing and combining the pumice or other agent with the fibers of the felt, either-before or after the fabric is felted; but I consider the most feasible method to consist of an apparatus suitably contrived for sprinkling the pumice or other agent in the individual bats of which the pile is made for the fabric preparatory to felting the same, the arrangement being such that the bats pass under the sprinkler as they are delivered from the carding-machine onto the apron, thatrcccives and accumulates the pile preparatory to placing the same between the felting-platens by which bats are felted to get-her; but, if desired, the felting process may be partly completed before applying the pumice or other agent, which may then be spread on the surface of the incomplete fabric and be worked into it by the continuation of the action of thefelting-platens. The pumice or other agent may thus be thoroughly and uniformly mixed with the fibers of the fabric,

so that it will always be present on the rubbingsurface while the rubber lasts, and the quantity will be uniform, giving the rubber a bet ter supply with less waste, and avoiding considerable waste of time and labor expended in replenishing the rubber as commonly used.

The quantity of the pumice or other agent may be varied, according to the particular kind of service the rubber is designed for, and the felt may be made more or less dense or compact, according as it may be desired to vary its solidity of texture and power of retaining the pumice or other agent. After the pumice or other agent has been properly combined with the felt, the latter may be sized with glycerine or glue, for a binder to retain the pumice, if desired. 4

Besides the quality of sharpness that the pumice or other like agent imparts to the fibers of the wool for thoroughly rubbing Off any oily and other foreign matters from varnished and other surfaces, the said agent has the effect of keeping the fibers from being united and packed together in a hard mass by the oily and other matters taken up from the surfaces rubbed, and thus maintains the capacity of sharpness continuously. In this respect the effect is much better when the pumice or other agent is combined with the fibers than when applied to the surface, because in the latter case the oil and grease are taken into the rubber by capillary action beyond where the pumice can take effect and stick the fibers together, while in the former case the pumice is always present whenever the oil may be taken by capillary action to prevent the sticking of the fibers and maintain the natural condition of elasticity of the fabric, which is one of the essential properties rendering it useful for a rubber.

, The accompanying drawing represents the form of felt rubber as commonly used for a varnish-rubber, and as I propose to make it for that purpose, in perspective view; but the form and dimensions are to be varied according to the circumstances of the case.

What. I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Fatent, is-

The improvement in felt rubbers for rub-v bing, cleaning, and smoothing varnish and In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed other surfaces,consisting ofthepumiceor other my name in the presence of two subscribing rubbing, smoothing, and polishing agent used Witnesses. therewith, combined and incorporated With JOS. B. LAUGHTON.

5 the fibers of the felt by intermixture in the texture of the fabric, substantially as described.

WVitnesses:

W. J. MORGAN, S. H. MORGAN. 

